Automobile jack



Dec. 31, 194 M. B. LUCKER 2,227,396

AUTOMOBILE JACK Filed Jan. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. B. LUCKER AUTOMOBILE JACK Filed Jan. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,227,396 AUTOMOBILE JACK Millard B. Lucker, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 10, 1938, Serial No. 184,174

12 Claims.

This invention relates to automobile jacks of the type wherein a relatively long supporting member, preferably in the form of a rod or tube, is-positioned in an upright manner and wherein a load supporting member, including a housing and an actuating member mounted thereon, is adapted to be moved vertically along the upright to raise or lower the load.

Among the objects. of the present invention are a eliminating additional openings in the housing to accomplish this assembly, and thereby eliminating the consequent weakening of the housing itself; to provide a more improved arrangement of the releasing cam in connection with the housing and particularly in connection and association with the opening in which the actuating lever is mounted so that the operation of the releasing cam is more simple and more easily and quickly eifected; to provide an improved gear tooth construction operating connection between the lifting cam and the liftingv actuator, specifically including the utilization of an involute gearing arrangement between these members,

whereby to facilitate and improve the actuation of the lifting cam by the actuator while permitting at the. same time their detachable connec- "tion for assembly purposes; to provide these and other objects of the invention as will be'evident from a perusal of the following specification when taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred construction of the Jack embodying the improved details of construction;

Figs. 2 and 3 are front and rear views corresponding thereto;

Figs; 4 and 5 are sections taken on lines 4-4 and 5=--5, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section of the jack showing one position of operation;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing another position of operation; V

- Fig. 8- is a plan view of the releasing cam;

, forming a seat or abutment-upon which is rotata- Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the actuating cam;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the manner of releasing the jack to permit it to come down;

Fig. 11 is a modified view showing a slightly different arrangement of interconnection between the actuating cam and the actuator;

Fig. 12 is still another modification of the actu ating cam and the actuator;

Fig. 13 is yet another modification of the actui ating cam and the actuator; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are modified constructions of the elongated supporting post or upright.

In general my invention comprises an elongated upright 2 preferably formed as a rod or tube and preferably of circular cross section, al

though this upright, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, may be of polygonal cross section such as hexagonal cross section as shown at 4, or of square cross section, as shown at 6. This upright 2 is supported in any suitable base 8 with which it makes a detachable friction grip fit as at l0, whereby the elongated support 2 is held in general upright position. It will be noted that the opening in the base 8 is slightly larger than the diameter of the upright 2, whereby the upright may be tilted slightly away from the vertical to permit the upright to lean in any desired direction, while at the same time maintaining itself upright. The upper portion of this elongated support 2 is preferably peened over slightly as at I2 to form a stop or head which is adapted to contact with a portion of the housing hereinafter described, to prevent detachment of 'the housing when in an uppermost position.

Cooperating with the elongated upright 2 is a 1 housing member I4 of gnerallycylindrical cross section in part and preferably considerably or integral metallic casting and includes at its 40 upper portion-an elongated sleeve-like portion it which is of smaller diameter than the main body portion of the jack, which sleeve-like member is provided with an outstandingintegral collar l8 bly mounted a turnable-load-supporting member or anvil 20 having a projecting prong 22 providing a suitably shaped holding recess 24. In

the present instance this recess 24 is of general 5 V-shape formation to receive the bottom portion of the bumper of an automobile. Obviously the shape of this saddle 20 may be made asdesired .to fit anyobject adapted to be lifted. 'In order to provide a convenient assembly, the upper portion of the sleeve I6 is provided with a cast tit or lug 26, and the cylindrical portion 28 of the saddle 28 is provided with an outstanding vertical enlargement 30 which when said enlargement registers with the lug 26 will permit the saddle 28 to be slipped down over the lug 26 to assemble the saddle on theupper end of the sleeve I6. When so assembled, the enlargement 38 is then struck or deformed inwardly, as at 32, whereby permanently to unite the saddle on the sleeve I6 while permitting their relative rotation, so that the saddle may be freely turned in any direction to position it under the load without changing the position of the jack proper.

Somewhat below the sleeve portion l6 of the housing, the housing preferably tapers conically, as at 34, and a considerable distance down is provided with an inwardly projecting integral flange 36, the inner portion of which provides, in association with the upper head l2 of the elongated post 2, a stop member and in addition provides a bearing, if necessary, to prevent any lateral tilting between the housing and the post 2. By placing this member 36 a considerable distance inwardly and downwardly from the upper or top portion of the sleeve I6, it is possible -to raise the housing along the post 2 sothat the saddle 26 will extend a considerable distance beyong the topmost portion l2 of the post. In this position the inward flange 36 will contact the head l2 and prevent any further upward movement of the load-carrying member 20. The housing l4 below the partition 36 is formed as a mainbody portion and is provided with a substantially centrally located, horizontal, internal partition 38 which forms not only an abutment or seat for a spring but also provides a pivotal point for a cam. In the embodiment illustrated, it is preferred to place a releasing or holding cam 40 in the compartment 42 above the. central partition -38.' To this end the rear wall of the body portion I4 is provided with an opening 44, in the present instance preferably of rectangular formation, into which fits a substantiallysquare lug 46 radially projecting from one side of the releasing cam 48. This cam has a main body portion preferably in the form of a washer, the washer at diametrically opposite sides having the lug 46 projecting therefrom and an oppositely extending lug 58 which is considerably longer and which is adapted to project outwardly of the housing as hereinafter described, whereby it may be contacted for shifting this cam to releasing position. The main body portion 48 of tlris cam is preferably formed or processed to provide opposite gripping jaws or portions 52 and 54, which portionsby suitable processing, as set forth in certain of my prior pending applications, are brought in closely togetherwhereby a slighter pivotal movement of the cam will effect a quicker gripping or releasing action. The specific construction of this cam is disclosed in certain of my prior pending applications.

This holding cam is normally held canted or tilted with respect to the elongated post 2 so as normally to grip the same'by means of a coiled spring 56 which encircles the post 2 and presses against the under side of the cam and against the upper side of the internal partition 38.

An actuating cam is preferably disposed in a 'chamber 58 disposed between the central partition 38 and the bottom-most part of 'the housing i4 which is formed by inwardly turned walls 60 of the housing at its bottom, providing thereat general. construction as cam 40,'eXcept that the cam 64 is provided with an upstanding toe or lug 66 on its upper surface, projecting in an upward direction and adapted to engage the under side of the central partition 38, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, to provide a tilting movement for this cam In addition the cam is provided with an oppositely extending lug 68 which is adapted detachably to connect with an actuator as hereinafter set forth. The cam is held in upper position, with the toe 66 against the under side of the partition 38, by means of a coiled spring which has its bottom resting against the bearing surface 68 of the housing and its upper portion resting agalnst the under surface of the cam 84.

The front of the housing is formed with an elongated opening 12 which extends substantially from the partition 35 to a point just a little above the bottom bearing 60. The walls of the housing for a considerable length of this opening extend outwardly in parallel, spaced apart relation as at 14, to provide two'outstanding cheeks which are centrally bored as at I6 to reand the actuating lever 88 are formed as an in'- volute gear tooth construction, which permits of maximum ease of operation and effective movement of the actuating camv upon movement of the actuator 80, with minimum backlash. As shown in Fig. 6, the lug 68 of theactuating cam is formed as an involute gear tooth, while the inner end of the actuator 88 is provided with an interdental space of corresponding shape. In Fig.- 11 the lug 82 of the actuating cam 64 is formed of involute construction and is also formed to provide an interdental space which engages two spaced teeth of involute construction, such as at 84, on the actuator 88. In Fig. 12 this construction is modified by showing only one involute gear tooth 84 cooperating with the involute interdental space on the actuator 64. In Fig. 13 I have shown a modified form of construction wherein the actuator 88 is provided with a lost-motion slot and pin connection with the actuating'cam 64.

In assembling the improved jack, the two actuating cams and their coiled springs are first inserted through the elongated slot 12 in the front of the housing, any suitable jig or fixture being used to effect this, the springs serving to hold the' cams in, such position. The upright rod 2 is then inserted by placing the bottom-- most end through the sleeve l6 and passing it I and so that the cams and springs can not then be taken from-the housing. Next the actuator is inserted through the opening I2 so that the involute tooth gearing intermeshes. The pin 18 is then inserted through the opening 16 and a cotter pin may then be inserted, or any other fastening means may be used whereby to hold the assembly in final organized relation. u

The spring 56 of the holding cam 40 is arranged normally to project it upwardly with respect to the housing whereby it is tilted or canted so that the gripping jaws 52 and 54 will normally grip the rod. This cam is released by inserting the handle member 92, which detaches from the actuator 80 in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, the upper or inner portion of this handle member underlying the upper partition 36 and the handle pressing down upon the long lug 50 of the releasing cam 40, whereby this cam is then shifted to such a position that the biting edges 52 and 54 are released, which will permit the housing to drop, it being presupposed that the actuator is in such position that the lifting cam is not then gripping the elongated post 2. n

On the contrary, the actuator 80 is utilized for raising the housing along the stationary upright post 2. This is accomplished by shifting the actuator 80 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the cooperating spring 10 in connection with the lug 66 accomplishing the intermittent grippingand releasing of the rod by the actuator so that the housing upon vertical reciprocation of the actuator 80 pulls itself in a sort of monkey fashion up the rod 2, the holding cam permitting the housing to slip along the post 2 in an upward direction but preventing any downward releasing movement. For instance, with the actuator in the position shown in Fig. 6, by moving it to the position shown in Fig. ,7 the upper tooth 8| of the actuator will press down upon the upper surface of the lug 68 of the actuating cam whereby to shift the actuating cam first to a substantially horizontal position.

It will be noted that'in Fig. 6 the actuating cam is held normally somewhat tilted by the coiled spring 10 and by the lug 6G engaging the under side of the partition 38; hence the first movement of the tooth portion Bl pressing down against lug 68 is to slightly straighten out the cam, \causing the teeth of the cam tightly to grip the upright rod 2. Due to the fact" that the actuator is pivoted to the housing 18, and since the tubular upright 2 is stationary, this will cause the entire housing to be moved upwardly to such a point that thebottom bearing 60 willrise to a position shown in Fig. 7, thereby compressing the coiled spring Hl. During this upward movement of the housing, the holding cam 40 will permit the housing to rise relatively to the stationary upright 2. Now, when the actu- 1 ator is released, the spring 10 will force the actuator down and will force the actuating cam 64 up to a position again shown in Fig. 6, the actuating cam immediately assuming its tilted position. During this movement the holding cam will prevent the downward slipping of the housing relatively to the stationary upright post 2. Upon further actuation or repeated actuation of the actuator 80, this movement of the housing upwardly on the upright 2 is continued until the load is raised by the saddle 24.

By suitably elongating the tongue 5ll of the releasing earn, 1 am enabled, upon the exertion of a relatively slight pressure on the upper surface of this cam, to permit the housing freely to slide downwardly along the rod 3.

By theterm jack," as occurring in the title of invention, specification and claims, is meant any type of device having a pulling, pushing or supporting function, and the invention is not necessarily restricted to automobile jacks or even to jacks, unless the elements of a particular claim specifically otherwise limit the claim to a jack.

The claims of this case are directed to the gear-like connection between the actuating: lever and the actuating cam, and to the release arrangement for the holding cam, claims to various other features of the construction shown being presented in -copending applications of applicant, including applications, Serial No. 43,752, flied October 5, 1935; Serial No. 74,969, filed April 17, 1936; and Serial No. 101,693, filed September 21, 1936. A

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention set forth for purposes of illustration without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1". A lifting jack comprising a base, a load-, lifting member, and means for moving the loadlifting member relative to the base comprising a housing and a friction clamp operating mechanism associated therewith, said operating mechan sm comprising an actuating friction clamp and an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said operating connection comprising interengageable members on the actuating. clamp and operating lever shaped into the form of involute gear teeth.

2. A lifting jack comprising a base, an up-' standing shaft mounted thereon, a load-lifting hbusing longitudinally slidable on the shaft, and means for moving the housing along the shaft comprising a friction clamp operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising an actuating friction clamp and an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and havin an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said operating connection comprising interengageable members on the actuating clamp and operating lever shaped into the form of involute gear teeth.

3. A lifting jack comprising a base, a loadlifting member, and means for moving the loadlifting member-relative to the base comprising a housing and a friction clampoperating mechanism associated therewith, said operating mechanism comprising an actuating friction clamp and an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said operating connection comprising a pair of spaced projections on the pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said operating connection comprising a pair of spaced projections on the operating lever and a member on the actuating clamp adapted to be engaged therebetween, the projections and memher being shaped into the form of involute gear teeth.

5. A lifting jack comprising a base, a loadlifting member, and means for moving the loadlifting member relative to thebase comprising a housing and a friction clamp operating mechanism associated therewith, said operating mechanism comprising an actuating friction clamp and an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said operating connection comprising a pair of spaced projections on the actuating clamp and a projection on the operating lever adapted to be engaged therebetween, said projections being shaped into the form' of involute gear teeth.

6. A lifting jack comprising a base, a loadlifting member operatively supported by the base,

and means for moving the load-lifting member relative to the base comprising a housing, a pair of friction clamps associated therewith, and a shaft extending through the housing and the clamps, one of said clamps being an actuating clamp and the other of said clamps being 'a holding clamp, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having a portion thereof fulcrumed on the housing and a projection extending outwardly through an opening formed through the housing, said housing opening being adapted to receive a release bar to be fulcrumed against a housing surface in the vicinity of the opening and against the holding clamp projection whereby to effect the release movements of the holding clamp, said housing surface and holding clamp projection being disposed on the same side of said shaft.

7. A lifting jack'comprising a base, an upstanding shaft mounted thereon, a load-lifting housing longitudinally slidable on the shaft, and means for moving the load-lifting housing along the shaft comprising a pair of friction clamps associated with the housing and mounted on the shaft, one of said clamps being an actuating clamp adapted to move the housing in a lifting direction and the other of said clamps being a holding clamp adapted to prevent the movement of the housing in a release direction, anoperating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having a portion thereof fulcrumed on the housing and a projection extending outwardly through an opening formed through the housing, said housing opening being adapted to receive a release bar 'to be fulcrumed against a housing surface in the vicinity of the opening and moved in the direction in which the housing moves during its release movements into engagement with the holding clamp projection whereby to effect the release movements of the holding clamp, said housing surface and holding clamp projection being disposed on the same side of said shaft. v

8. A lifting jack comprising a base, a loadlifting member operatively supported by the base, and means for moving the load-lifting member relative to the base comprising a housing, a pair of friction clamps associated therewith, and a shaft extending through the housing and the clamps, one' of said clamps being an actuating clamp and the other of said clamps being a holding clamp, an'operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, a handle bar removably connected with the operating lever to effect the movements thereof, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having a portion thereof fulcrumed on the housing and a projection extending outwardly through an opening formed through the housing, said housing opening being adapted to receive said handle bar upon disconnection from the operating lever to be fulcrumed against a housing surface in the vicinity of the opening and against the holding clamp projection whereby to effect the release movements of the holding clamp, said housing surface and holding clamp projection being disposed on the same side of said shaft.

9. A lifting jack comprising a base, a loadlifting member operatively supported by the base,

and means for moving the load-lifting member v relative to thebase comprising a housing, a pair of friction clamps associated therewith, and a shaft extending through the housing and the clamps, one of said clamps being an actuating clamp and' the other of said clamps being a holding clamp, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having a portion thereof fulcrumed on the housing and a projection extending outwardly housing longitudinally slidable on the shaft, and

means for moving the load-lifting housing along the shaft comprising a pair of friction clamps associated with the housing and mounted on the shaft, one of said clamps being an actuating clampadapted to move the housing in a lifting i direction and the other of said clamps being a holding clamp adapted to prevent the movement of the housing in a release direction, an operating lever pivotally mounted on .the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having .a portion thereof fulcrumed on the housing and .a projection extending outwardly through an opening formed through the housing, said housing opening being arranged in the plane of operation of the operating leverand being adapted to receive a release bar to be fulcrumed against a housing surface in the vicinity of the opening and moved in the direction which the housing moves during its release movements into engagement with the holding clamp projection whereby to effect the release movements of the holding clamp, said housing surface and holding clamp projection being disposed on the same side of said shaft.

ii. A lifting jack comprising a base, a loadlifting member operatively supported by the base, and means for moving the load-lifting member relative to the base comprising a. housing and a pair of friction clamps associated therewith, one of said clamps beingan actuating clamp and the other of said clamps being a holding clamp; an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having a. portion thereof rulcrumed on the housing and a projection extending outwardly throughan opening formed through the housing, said housing opening being arranged in the plane of operation of the operating lever and being adapted to receive a release bar to be iulcrumed against the housing and against the holding clamp pro- Jection whereby to eifec't the release movements of the holding clamp, and resilient means engage-able with the actuating clamp whereby to normally hold the operating lever in a position extending away from said housing opening.

12. A lifting jack comprising a base, an up standing shaft mounted thereon, a. load-lifting housing longitudinally slidable on the shaft, and means for moving the load-lifting housing along the shaft comprising a pair oi friction clamps associated with the housing, one of said clamps being an actuating clamp adapted to raise the housing and the other of said clamps being a holding clamp adapted to control the downward movement of the housing, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing and having an operating connection with the actuating clamp, said holding clamp being mounted within the housing and having a portion thereof Iulcrumed on the housing and a projection extending outwardly through an opening formed through the housing,\ said housing opening being arranged substantially in the plane of operation or the operating lever and above the lever and adapted to receive a release bar to be tulcrumed against the housing and moved downwardly --into engagement with the holding clamp projection 

